Ensenada, Baja California
This visit to Ensenada is through a Carnival 4-night cruise from Long Beach, CA. We’ve been here with Carnival several times before and always have a great time.
The ship arrives early in the morning, so if you want to go on land early you can. We really enjoy having morning coffee in our room (free room service!) followed by breakfast in the dining room. At our own pace and convenience, we walk off the ship, ready to explore Ensenada.
We’ve been to La Bufadora a few times in the past. We have also discovered “las segundas”, or the second hand/thrift shops in Ensenada. They are a GREAT place to search for inexpensive and sellable items; but not on our agenda today.
Note: La Bufadora, or the blow hole, is one of the world’s highest. You can grab a tour bus there and back for $20 each. There are loads of shops for buying souvenirs and restaurants for eating seafood at the location. It’s a nice, inexpensive day trip.
Today’s plan is to just take a walk through the fish market and into the main, First, street where most tourists go.
The first couple of times we came to Ensenada on a cruise, we thought we had to take a bus into the town. Two tor three dollars gets you to the drop off near MacDonald’s. However, the bus ride, however reasonably priced, is not necessary. It’s a pleasant short walk to town.
We walk across a short bridge and approach a huge fountain/water feature that shoots water up into the air with accompanying music. On our way there we pass many men calling us to come take a harbor cruise on their fishing boats. We smile and joke with them.
Laurence broadcast a Periscope “Walk and Talk”of this walk that you can find and enjoy on our YouTube channel, “Round the Bend.TV” (be sure to subscribe…we need your eyeballs!
We pass restaurants with young men outside calling us to come have a drink or something to eat. Don’t let their assertiveness bother you. They are trying to make a living like you and we. We have discovered the secret phrase, “We (or I) live here” to be the magic phrase that keeps them away.
Toward the end of the harbor walk, we approach a sign calling out “Mercado Negro”, the Black Market. Stalls are abundant, offering lots of souvenirs everything from clothing and hats to ironwood cravings of fish and birds. Don’t forget to negotiate!
Immediately following el Mercado Negro is the local fish market. Hawkers of pescado line the road. Because this market is outside, the fish mongers wave sticks with loose fronds on the end in an attempt to wave as many flies away as is possible. The flies don’t pay much attention though and immediately return.
You can find barracuda, sword fish, yellow tail, shrimp, crabs and even smoked fish. Take a look at the various offerings and make your pick.
We keep walking east because we want to go to First Street, which, as I mentioned earlier is the main drag for tourists.
We cross the boulevard, and make a quick stop into the farmacia (pharmacy). You can buy lots of drugs over-the-counter in Mexico that require a prescription in the USA. We are getting antibiotics today, but viagra, coal is, retin-A and other drugs are available. Next time you go to Mexico, don’t forget to stock up!
Just a block away is First Street. We wander down and the local salesmen and guys working “for tips” approach us. Don’t be intimidated. They are just trying to get you to spend your dough with them.
There is lots of competition for the Dollar. Because Ensenada is just 70 miles or so south of San Diego, US Dollars are accepted everywhere and English is widely spoken.
Beside the men inviting you into their shops, you’ll see women holding babies begging for change and elderly women hawking Chicklets gum and maracas for souvenirs.
Bands of Mariachis as well a lone singers offer traditional Mexican songs for a few dollars.
What you’ll see most of in this neighborhood are tourists….lots of them. Most of the young ones are drinking. A lot. Margaritas and beer are popular; and excessive drinking and partying common. Hey, I did it too, but back in the day. We’ve all done it, right?
You’ll notice vendors offering you free shots of tequila. Beware of the local booze. It pretty rock gut, and the honest locals advise you to stick to what you buy. One free tequila too many might find you passed out and without your wallet or jewelry.
We wander into a variety of old shops including Joe’s. The old guy inside, Joe, tells us he has had his shop for 59 years. It is bulging with lovely stained glass (the real thing he says) from top to bottom and side-to-side. An old and fantastic treasure trove.
Most of the shops offer the same, or similar merchandise. Don’t forget to negotiate and walk away if you need to.
We were here once when I found a pair of earrings I liked. I asked how much they were and was told they were $500USD. Seriously?
I wasn’t even close to interested at that price. (Note: Make sure your selection is marked Sterling and/or 925 for a greater assurance you’re buying sterling silver. Alpaca is not sterling. The name refers to 800 silver, ie, the item is 80% silver, not 92.5% as is sterling. Pure silver would be marked 1000 and is not common.)
I worked with the shop owner to get that $500USD price down. At one point he asked what I’d be willing to pay and I said, “$50”.
He wasn’t going for that low-ball offer, so I decided that we weren’t going to be able to make a deal. It was time to leave.
Once outside and a few feet down the sidewalk, one of the shop owner’s helpers ran up to me proclaiming that his boss would accept my $50 offer.
By that time, I’d lost interest and they lost the sale. But the story here is that, depending upon what they have into the item, the price can be negotiated way down. The more you want the item, the more you will be willing to pay.
This Ensenada visit also happened to be Halloween. Halloween isn’t celebrated in Mexico, but the following day, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is. We were treated to a big group of school aged (14-15 years) kids dressed in their costumes. They looked great!
As you can imagine, we are always looking for antique or thrift shops. As we were in a tourist spot, such shops are hard to find.
On the advise of one young man “working for tips” we found the single antique shop on their part of First Street. The shop was identified by signage to be a historic building. It turned out to be what was once an old hotel.
Two levels with LOTS of furniture and some smalls mixed in. Antiques,?at least these, were priced extremely high. We saw an antique folding rocking chair for sale with a $250 price tag on it.
A similar chair in Los Angeles would go for $40, if you can find it. It is so interesting to see values change based upon locale.
Finding what sells for a lot in your location selling for little elsewhere is a key to making money in the antiques and collectibles business. That’s why we look everywhere we can.
At the end of our excursion it was time to head back to the ship. Walking in Ensenada (or taking the bus) is an exciting and interesting way to travel, bringing you closer to the locals. Watch yourself when drinking and don’t forget to negotiate whenever you can. We will be back, I certain, and will probably visit las segundas (thrift shops) next time.
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tags: #EnsenadaBC; #Guadalupe; #LaBufadora; #CarnivalCruises; #Mexico; #BajaCalifornia